Day 5 - A Song That Reminds You of Someone

We've talked about songs evoking feelings the last couple of days. Now a few days of songs that conjure up memories.

There are lots of songs that fit the bill here. I hear "Luck be a Lady" and I think of my high school production of Guys and Dolls. I hear the theme for Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada, and more often than not, I think of my mom. Why, you ask? Well, as Hammy Hamster would say, that's another story. But in that vein…

One of the first people I was introduced to when I found the downtown Toronto karaoke scene a few years ago was Rannie Turingan. Rannie's good people — a talented photographer and social media professional, a magnetic personality in a crowded room. He's also a karaoke enthusiast, with specialties in Elton John, Madonna, Adele, and Lady Gaga, among others.

You'll notice a connection in that list of artists above. You can't hear "Born This Way" without thinking of Madonna's 1989 hit "Express Yourself". In fact, they're more or less the same song.

Anyway, Rannie developed a habit of singing "Born This Way" at karaoke, but transitioning to the lyrics from "Express Yourself" partway through the song (from memory), and then back to "Born This Way". It's an awfully fun party trick, and I've seen it pop a crowded bar more than once. I get a smile on my face every time I think of it, and I can't hear "Born This Way" ever since without thinking of Rannie.